SB 3A REG. 13: #4 Lebanon eliminates Mt. Vernon (Fortville), 9-0

Lebanon used a six-run fifth inning to break open a 9-0 regional championship victory over the Mt. Vernosn Marauders in IHSAA softball Tuesday night.

Lebanon pitcher Ashlyn Montgomery threw a three-hit shutout to vanquish the Marauders, allowing just five baserunners in the game.

The Tigers scored two runs in the first when Montgomery singled and scored on Lexi Reese's triple. While Reese was cut down trying to score on a wild pitch, the next hitter, Danielle Bruner, tripled and scored on a wild pitch.

The Tigers added an unearned run in the third when ninth hitter Whitney Cosgray reached on an error and scored on Reese's second RBI extra-base hit of the game, a double to the centerfield fence.

But things broke open in the fifth. Madelyn Smith led off with a hit, Montgomery drew a one-out walk, then No. 2 hitter Carly Greene tripled down the leftfield line to make it 5-0. Reese, who went 4-for-4 on the day, followed with her third RBI hit. Bruner doubled, Britt singled her home, then Kendall McCollum had a two-out, two-run single to make it 9-0.

MV was set down in order in the sixth and seventh to end the game.

MV got hits from Rachel Davis, Rachel Houck and Emily White in the second, third and fifth, but never got a runner past second base against Montgomery.

Balbach went the distance for MV, striking out five and allowing 12 hits and eight earned runs.

MV finishes 22-8 and won its first sectional title since 2002. The Marauders also won the Hoosier Heritage Conference championship and two weekend tournaments.